J. L. Matthews

John L. Matthews, actor, appeared in New York theaters in the 1860s and 70s. Matthews was in "Our American Cousin" when Lincoln was shot. At about 6:00 p.m. that evening Booth thrust a letter into Matthews' hands and asked him to take it to the Washington "National Intelligencer" after the show because Booth would not have time to do it. It was a confession, which Matthews burned before showing it to anyone, afraid it would incriminate him.